Remarkable Mar’keise
Minnesota running back recruit ‘checks all the boxes’ as Hillcrest goes 27-4 over his 3 seasons
When Mar’Keise Irving was a sophomore, Hillcrest’s coaching staff considered playing him at slot receiver.
The Hawks were a senior-dominant team, and Irving had just transferred from Morgan Park.
“They were trying to find a spot for me,” Irving said. “I was at receiver, but then they put me at running back for one play and I ran for a 90-yard touchdown.
“They said, ‘You’re staying at running back.’ ”
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Irving, a Minnesota recruit, went on to rush for 3,647 yards and 52 touchdowns in three seasons while earning all-area honors.
In six games this season, the Daily Southtown Football Player of the Year totaled 762 yards and 13 TDs on just 64 carries. He averaged 11 yards a carry — or a first down on every run.
Through it all, Irving also led Hillcrest down victory lane. The Hawks finished 27-4 during his three seasons as starter, includ-ing three undefeated conference championships.
Hillcrest coach Morgan Weaver didn’t mince words when asked about Irving’s impact and skill level.
“He’s the best high school running back I’ve seen or coached,” Weaver said. “He carried a lot of the load for us. He can stop and go, but what a lot of people don’t think he has is an ability to run guys over.
“He’s so strong. He has no problem lowering his shoulder and getting the extra yards needed for a first down. He checks all the boxes as far as intangibles, too.”
First and foremost, Irving is a team player.
In normal seasons, the 5-foot- 10, 178-pound senior would have met or exceeded this season’s total of 64 carries in two or three games.
Most of the time, Irving was on the sideline for the second half.
Sometimes, it was due to Hillcrest (5-1) holding a commanding lead. Other times, it was a nod to Irving’s character.
“I wanted to let my other guys get the spotlight to help them get to the next level,” he said. “Myguys who didn’t have a scholarship, I wanted them to get a chance to show what they can do.”
Weaver said that type of humility will serve Irving well in college and beyond.
“You wouldn’t know it by the way he plays, but he’s a sweet, caring kid,” Weaver said. “He cares about anyone who has ever helped him. He wants to do well by them.”
That includes Weaver, his staff, and boys basketball coach Don Houston.
“Our coaches are different,”
Irving said. “We have relationships with them outside of football and basketball. You can talk to them or call them at any time.
“They expect us as student-athletes to carry ourselves a certain way. They prepare you for the next level.”
As a junior, Irving pulled off a rarity, earning conference player of the year in football and basketball.
He was conference player ofthe year in football this season.
Irving is going to miss Hillcrest, especially games against Lemont. He led the Hawks to three wins over the Indians, rushing for a mesmerizing 302 yards in a 30-26 win in 2019, adding 214 yards in a 30-24 win this season and 217 yards in a 27-7 win in 2018.
“I know Lemont is happy to see me gone,” Irving said with a laugh.
“I love playing those guys. It was always a dogfight. They came to play every play. I knew they were going to compete.”
Irving, who had 29 scholarship offers, is fully prepared to compete for playing time at Minnesota. The Gophers return the Big Ten’s leading rusher in Mohamed Ibrahim, who will be a redshirt senior in the fall.
“I have to be patient with this,”
Irving said. “I have to wait my turn. I’m going to get advice, learn from him and be ready when he passes the torch to me.
“The coaches have told me to come in, work hard and be ready to contribute on special teams. But I’ll be ready to compete. I always am.”
The Hawks were a senior-dominant team, and Irving had just transferred from Morgan Park.
“They were trying to find a spot for me,” Irving said. “I was at receiver, but then they put me at running back for one play and I ran for a 90-yard touchdown.
“They said, ‘You’re staying at running back.’ ”
And the rest, as they say, is history.
Irving, a Minnesota recruit, went on to rush for 3,647 yards and 52 touchdowns in three seasons while earning all-area honors.
In six games this season, the Daily Southtown Football Player of the Year totaled 762 yards and 13 TDs on just 64 carries. He averaged 11 yards a carry — or a first down on every run.
Through it all, Irving also led Hillcrest down victory lane. The Hawks finished 27-4 during his three seasons as starter, includ-ing three undefeated conference championships.
Hillcrest coach Morgan Weaver didn’t mince words when asked about Irving’s impact and skill level.
“He’s the best high school running back I’ve seen or coached,” Weaver said. “He carried a lot of the load for us. He can stop and go, but what a lot of people don’t think he has is an ability to run guys over.
“He’s so strong. He has no problem lowering his shoulder and getting the extra yards needed for a first down. He checks all the boxes as far as intangibles, too.”
First and foremost, Irving is a team player.
In normal seasons, the 5-foot- 10, 178-pound senior would have met or exceeded this season’s total of 64 carries in two or three games.
Most of the time, Irving was on the sideline for the second half.
Sometimes, it was due to Hillcrest (5-1) holding a commanding lead. Other times, it was a nod to Irving’s character.
“I wanted to let my other guys get the spotlight to help them get to the next level,” he said. “Myguys who didn’t have a scholarship, I wanted them to get a chance to show what they can do.”
Weaver said that type of humility will serve Irving well in college and beyond.
“You wouldn’t know it by the way he plays, but he’s a sweet, caring kid,” Weaver said. “He cares about anyone who has ever helped him. He wants to do well by them.”
That includes Weaver, his staff, and boys basketball coach Don Houston.
“Our coaches are different,”
Irving said. “We have relationships with them outside of football and basketball. You can talk to them or call them at any time.
“They expect us as student-athletes to carry ourselves a certain way. They prepare you for the next level.”
As a junior, Irving pulled off a rarity, earning conference player of the year in football and basketball.
He was conference player ofthe year in football this season.
Irving is going to miss Hillcrest, especially games against Lemont. He led the Hawks to three wins over the Indians, rushing for a mesmerizing 302 yards in a 30-26 win in 2019, adding 214 yards in a 30-24 win this season and 217 yards in a 27-7 win in 2018.
“I know Lemont is happy to see me gone,” Irving said with a laugh.
“I love playing those guys. It was always a dogfight. They came to play every play. I knew they were going to compete.”
Irving, who had 29 scholarship offers, is fully prepared to compete for playing time at Minnesota. The Gophers return the Big Ten’s leading rusher in Mohamed Ibrahim, who will be a redshirt senior in the fall.
“I have to be patient with this,”
Irving said. “I have to wait my turn. I’m going to get advice, learn from him and be ready when he passes the torch to me.
“The coaches have told me to come in, work hard and be ready to contribute on special teams. But I’ll be ready to compete. I always am.”
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